Hey, the media bashes the Vikings too! Wow!

[jack's smirking revenge]

i'm totally on borad with Childress. If for no other reason that I have been purple fan for 25 years (i'm 29 now) and really, really hated where the vikings were at at the end of last eyar. I don't think there has ever been a coach in the NFL as underqualified and showed it on the field than Mike Tice. I am in now way comparing Childress to these coaches, but guys like Bill Parcells and Brian Billicheck have been know for there unwillingness to cooperate with the media. Tice was one of the most honest and upfront coaches with the media and he is a terrible coach. From the time Childress and zigi Wilf have taken over this team, it seems as though a huge attitude change has been made.

What's your take on Fran Foley and the Vikes 2006 draft?

tyler

[HarveyWallbangers]

Some of the Packers bad press is going to the Vikings. I must say that I don't have a lot of respect for "the Czar".

Vikes banking on Childress, Johnson
John Czarnecki
Special to FOXSports.com

Minnesota can be a great place. The lakes, the fresh air, the snowmobiles. But something is amiss with the Vikings, the pride of the Dakotas and the upper Midwest, too.

It started with the general lack of support for former head coach Mike Tice, who tried to micro-manage everything and failed. For some reason, the Vikings have always looked the other way on a player's character, and the club has paid the public-relations' price with such departed stars as Randy Moss and Daunte Culpepper and by giving $10 million to Fred Smoot of Love Boat infamey, such a talented cornerback that the Washington Redskins couldn't wait to pack his bags.

They gambled on running back Onterrio Smith and lost when he was caught with the Whizzanator, but that mistake didn't teach them anything. Instead, they picked up receiver Koren Robinson, who was suspended numerous times by the Seattle Seahawks before finally being put on the streets.

In the past, former head coach Denny Green could control the characters on this team, but his love-hate relationship with the media took its toll and he devised his own firing, leaving former owner Red McCombs shell-shocked and a lot poorer. McCombs then simply promoted Tice because it was easy and also fiscally responsible.

New owner Zygi Wilf inherited some of this baggage and after a rocky first season decided to clean house. Wilf totally whiffed on one of his first major hires, having already fired top personnel man Fran Foley, the legal settlement pending. Also, he rushed to hire Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress and give him all this power like he's the second coming of Bill Belichick.

Well, that's the way it is now, after the so-called Triangle of Authority disintegrated with the ousting of Foley. This week, Wilf hired Rick Spielman, whom he passed over originally, to assume Foley's role. Like other unemployed executives, Spielman was binding his time with ESPN waiting for his phone to ring.

Spielman probably owes his job to contract negotiator Rob Brzezinski, a club vice president. The two are good friends and should work well together. Both have plenty of compassion, being fathers of adopted children. They are good men. Wilf deserves credit for promoting both of them.

Spielman, though, has been an unlucky personnel director. When he worked pro personnel for the Chicago Bears, that team never had a Pro Bowl player, the signature of an excellent personnel judge. Chicago's big mistake during his tenure was wasting a first-round draft pick on quarterback Rick Mirer. Spielman then followed former Bears coach Dave Wannstedt to Miami where they spent a second-round pick on Eagles quarterback A.J. Feeley and gave up a ton to New Orleans for running back Ricky Williams. There is no doubt that Williams was productive, but he's out of the NFL and his retirement cost Wannstedt and Spielman their jobs.

So what part of the new Triangle of Authority fits Spielman?

"I was on the outside and looked at this Triangle of Authority," Spielman told Minnesota reporters. "I think that was something the media labeled on this thing. I don't think there's a Triangle of Authority. I want to get to know the coaches. I want to build a relationship with the coaches and the personnel staff."

The bottom line is that Spielman will attempt to do what is best for the organization.

Finally, what are the expectations? Minnesota's most recent college draft was roundly criticized league-wide, but there remains enormous pressure on the organization to improve on last year's 9-7 record. Why? Because the perception is that Tice messed it up and what he didn't mess up the players did by their foolish public sex party on the Love Boat. The idea is that Childress is no-nonsense and head and shoulders strategy-wise above Tice.

But is that reality?

Childress is banking on quarterback Brad Johnson, who will turn 38 in September. But will Johnson still be standing and be in one piece come December? The running game will now feature Mewelde Moore, who has been very unreliable, starting only eight games last season. The offensive line is solid, but the playmakers are tight end Jermaine Wiggins and Travis Taylor, two solid receivers; but neither is a game-breaker.

Childress needs Troy Williamson and Robinson to become stars right away. If that happens, Minnesota has a chance. But so much is riding on Johnson and Childress to deliver in a big way.

The best approach is probably to sit back and wait and see. For the most part, that's how Childress has treated the situation. He can do that, along with hiding from the media like he did when Spielman was hired.

[mngolf19]

Harv, I agree with you on "the Czar". He obviously isn't talking to or watching the Vikes. They are going to a Seattle/Pitt type offense that has big play potential but is based around a power running game. This takes all the pressure off of Johnson. It also only means that Williamson and Robinson get open in single coverage and catch the ball when thrown. Basic and simple, no stars outside of OL required. At least on the offense.

[HarveyWallbangers]

It also only means that Williamson and Robinson get open in single coverage and catch the ball when thrown.

That's assuming they can run the ball very well.

[mngolf19]

It also only means that Williamson and Robinson get open in single coverage and catch the ball when thrown.

That's assuming they can run the ball very well.

That's true, but I can't see any reason why they wouldn't. You don't have to be a great back to run behind that left side.

[Rastak]

It also only means that Williamson and Robinson get open in single coverage and catch the ball when thrown.

That's assuming they can run the ball very well.

The running game should be ok. Line is much better than last year and they now have two offensive line coaches instaed of friggen zero like last year.....